Lamp



Sept. 9, 1941. E. MacFADDl-:N A 2,255,262

LAMP

Filed Sept. 12,'1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES f? ortie LAMP Application September 12, 1939, Serial No. 294,473

2 Claims. (Cl. 285-963) This invention relates to improvements in lamps of the kind which may be converted either for use upon a table, desk, or the like or for mounting upon a wall.

One object of the invention is to provide for u facility in making the adjustments necessary to effect the desired transformations.

A further object is a lamp wherein provision is made for avoiding accidental or unintentional displacement of the parts when such adjustments f have been made.

A still further object is to provide a lamp wherein the relative movement between the adjustable parts' is limited in such a manner as to prevent injury to the conductors leadingto l" the lamp socket.

Still further objects are to provide a lamp which is simple in design and pleasing and attractive in appearance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: l

Figures 1 and 2 are views in elevation of a lamp embodying the features of the invention, the lamp in one instance being shown as a table lamp and in the other as a wall lamp.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the sections of the joint which adjustably connects the socket holder and body of the lamp.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the companion section of the joint.

Figure 5 is a'vertical section through the joint, the sections thereof being adjusted as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a similar view taken along the same line, the sections of the joint being adjusted as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a section taken along line 8-3 of 'Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a similar section taken along the same line, the sections of the joint being adjusted as shown in Figure 2.

The lamp, as illustrated, includes a body I which is mounted upon a base I I and which carries a holder I2, the said parts being of any suitable (preferably ornamental) design. The lholder I2 carries a socket I3 for a lbulb I4, a diuser I which is associated with the bulb :and which is Vmounted upon the socket carrying a shade I6. The various parts of the body I0 are assembled upon a central tube Il (Figure 1) while the holder parts and socket are assembled upon a similar, although shorter, tube I8.

In accordance with the invention the body I0 and holder I2 are connected by a joint I9. The Vlatter .comprises hollow mating hemispherical sections 26 and 2|, preferably in theV form of die-castings, the section 26 being formed with an internally threaded neck 22 for accommodating the lower end of the tube I8 while the companion section isr formed with a similar neck 23 for accommodating the upper end of the tube Il. Preferably the face of the circular edge 24 of the joint section 20 extends at an angle of 45 degrees in onedirection with respect to the axis of the neck 22 while the face of the corresponding edge'of the section 2I extends at the same angle, but in the opposite direction, with respect to the-axis of the neck 23. The section 26 is formed with a sleeve v25 which telescopes over a smaller sleeve 26 formed in the section 2|, the axes of the said sleeves being coincident and normal to the planes of the faces of the abutting edges 24 of the sections. The sleeves 25 and 26 house a threaded element 2l. The said element has a reduced inner end which screws into the sleeves 26 and a central portion which provides a trunnion about which the sleeve 25 may rotate. The outer end of the sleeve 25 is enlarged to provide a chamber 23 for accommodating a spring 29, the latter being held under compression betweenth'e'end wall 36 of the chamber and the head 3l ofthe element and serving to hold the faces of the circular edges 24 of the joint sections in abutting relation.

The construction described enables the upper joint section to be rotated uponkthe companion section either to a position (Figure 1) wherein the axes of the tubes II and I8 are collinear, as irn a table or desk lamp, or to a position (Figure 2) wherein the said axes are normal with respect to one another, as in a wall lamp. In order to lock the joint sections against relative angular movement in the positions described, the section 2I is formed with projections 32 and 33 while an internal shoulder 26a in the section 26 is formed with notches 34, 35, 36 and 31, the notches 34 and 35 being formed at one side of the section 20 while the notches 36 and 31 are formed at the opposite side. When the sections 26 and 2I are adjusted as shown in Figure 1, the projection 32 occupies the notch 34 while the projection 33 occupies the notch 3l. On the other hand, when the joint sections are adjusted as shown in Figure 2, the projection 33 occupies the notch 35 while the projectionw32 occupies the notch 36, it being noted that the angular distance between the two positions is degrees.

The spring 29 holds the projections in interlocking relation with respect to the notches. When it is desired to adjust the lamp, it is necessary only to move one of the said sections axially away from the other and rotate it upon the other, the spring 29 yielding to permit separation of the sections. The projections are thereby withdrawn from the engaged notches and as the sections are manipulated in the manner described they will ride upon the shoulder 29a until, under the influence of the spring, they are caused to enter the notches corresponding to the desired position of adjustment.

The tubes Il and I8 and the joint I9 provide a conduit for housing the conductors 38 which lead to the socket I3. In order to prevent twisting of the conductors to such an extent as to be injurious, a projection 39 is formed upon the joint section 20 between the notches 36 and 3'I (Figures 3 and 6). When the lamp is employed as a table lamp the projection 33 abuts one side of the projection 39 Whereas when it is employed as a wall lamp the projection 32 abuts the opposite side, of the projection 39. The latter, therefore,

restricts relative movement between the joint sections to 180 degrees, it being understood that the parts are so designed that the joint sections cannot be separated far enough during their adjustment in the manner described to permit either of the projections 32 or 33 to pass the projection 39. Hence if the section 2U is rotated in a clockwise direction upon thecompanion section to effect one transformation of the lamp it must be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to effect the second transformation.

It will be apparent that the body II), base II and holder I2 serve as a bracket when the lamp is mounted upon a Wall. In order to facilitate the use of the lamp in this manner the base is preferably dished, as indicated in Figure 2, and carries a hanger 40, the latter being adapted to be engaged over a pin 4I which is attached to the wall in any suitable manner.

I claim:

1. A joint of the character described including a pair of mating sections, one of said sections having an axis of rotation about which it may be turned to adjust it to diierent angular `positions With relation to the companion section and being formed with oppositely disposed projections, the companion section being formed with notches which said projections may enter to lock said sections against relative angular movement in either direction in each of said positions, said companion section being formed with a projection which cooperates with one of said projections to limit relative angular movement between said sections in one direction and which cooperates with the other of said projections to limit relative angular movement between said sections in Jthe opposite direction, and means which acts against said sections to hold said projections in said notches and which is operative to permit separation of said sections to withdraw said projections from said notches.

2. A joint of the character described including a pair of mating sections, one of said sections having an axis of rotation about which it may be turned to adjust it to different angular positions with relation to the companion section and being formed with diametrically opposed pairs of.

notches, one of said pairs of notches being separated by a relatively low projection and the other pair of said notches beingseparated by a relaitively high projection, the companion section having a pair of opposed projections which are adapted to enter certain of said notches to lock said sections aaginst relative angular movement in either direction in one of said positions and which are adapted to enter other of said notches to lock said sections against relative angular movement in either direction in a second of said positions, one of said pair of projections cooperating with said relatively high projection to limit relative angular movement between said sections in one direction and the other of said pair of projections cooperating with said relatively high projection to limit relative angular movement between said sections in the opposite direction, and means acting against said sections to hold said pair of projections in said notches and which is operative to permit separation of said sections far enough to withdraw said pair of projections from said notches without preventing cooperation of the pair of projections in the manner described with said relatively high projection.

LELAND E. MACFADDEN` 

